Applying Principles from the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology

The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology for the State of Texas is comprised of four key areas:

1. Teaching and Learning
2. Educator Preparation and Development
3. Leadership, Administration and Instructional Support
4. Infrastructure for Technology

Calallen ISD has recently placed more emphasis on Educator Preparation and Development due to our STaR chart evaluations that place Calallen High School in the Developing Tech level of that area. This key area deals with:

1. Professional Development Experiences
2. Models of Professional Development
3. Capabilities of Educators
4. Access to Professional Development
5. Levels of Understanding and Patterns of Use
6. Professional Development for Online Learning

For the past three years Calallen HS has scored twelve out of a possible twenty-four points, ranking in the developing tech level for each of the six sections. Although 74,2% of the districts in the state reside in this level, Calallen ISD has written the district technology plan for 2010-2012 to focus primarily on improving professional development. This appears to be the same trend for the State as evidenced in the multiplicity of presentations on this topic at the recent Texas Computer Educator Association conference of 2010 in Austin. Many districts appear to realize that as the trend for key areas three and four are trending to move from Developing Tech to Advanced Tech schools can now utilize those resources and leadership to improve Educator Preparation. This should have the trickle down effect of increasing classroom use, technology applications TEKS and the student mastery of Technology Applications.

To this end, Calallen ISD has hired an additional technology integration specialist, has applied for and received grants focusing on staff development and is working to post all staff development online to engage teachers in using the same tools as their students should be using. As we focus on letting teachers feel comfortable with these tools, they will be more apt to use them with their students and engage them in real life scenarios.